Amherstburg Residents Looking At Modest Tax Increase

The document shows a 2% tax increase for residents which CAO John Miceli says was the direction taken from council.

The budget includes the town's biggest capital works plan to date with $5-million in projects scheduled for the coming year.

Miceli says the 2% increase is just a starting point.

"I would expect that council is going to go through our budget in great detail. Our budget is being presented to council with issue papers that support each recommendation of administration. Based on if council approves them or not, that will either maintain the 2% or reduce the 2%."

He says debt was $44-million in 2013, they've been able to bring that down to $38-million.

"The community and council have come to realize we have a plan in moving the town forward, we've executed that plan in the most financially responsible way that we can. Three years ago, four years ago the headlines in Amherstburg were the town is broke. We're no longer broke, we're making investments in our infrastructure and we're doing the things that we need to do to move the town forward."

Miceli is encouraging residents to go online to talktheburg.ca to take a look at the budget and provide feedback.

A public input session is also planned for November 18 from 1pm to 3pm at the Libro Centre.

Budget deliberations begin November 28 with of goal of passing the final budget December 11.